My Take on Trapunto
I needed to make another trapunto sample for an upcoming guild visit. I forgot how much I love the texture that trapunto brings to a quilt!
I decided to add some metallic thread this time. I can’t figure out how to properly photograph the metallic so that it shows up-those lines are Yenmet Silver Metallic.
One of the secrets to trapunto is controlling all that extra puff with LOTS of pins!
Talk about texture! I took this photo of Ricky Tims’ “Songe d’Automne” while hanging in the 2012 PIQF. His trapunto must have been raised 1/4″ off the surface of the quilt-it was stunning.
I redesigned the center and I’m pleased with the outcome. But, can you see that if I had done some sort of tight, tiny quilting around the rounded ends of the feathery parts that both the trapunto box and the feather would have been more pronounced? I think I will add that when I get my sample back.
I used a light blue sateen so it has that lovely sheen to it. I did have a almost disaster though! I always write my name in permanent ink on the back of my samples for security. In this case I inadvertently wrote my name in permanent ink on THE FRONT of the quilt-ack! I immediately recognized my error, ran into the laundry room, doused it in “ink remover”, and dab, dab, dabbed at it until it came out. Whew!
I hope to post again shortly. I’m working on a 7″ x 10″ piece for the 25th anniversary of Studio Art Quilt Associates. I need to have it done and shipped by the 31st-yikes!
Please be patient with me over the next few weeks. There’s just a little bit going on in the next month: SAQA meeting to plan and run, teaching/lecture, my home guild’s show and 2 quilt submitals due. But it’s all good!
Beautiful Jenny!
Thank you Connie!
That sample is wonderful! Trapunto is a lot of extra work, but well worth it.
I just finished my SAQA trunk show piece and will post it on my blog. Will you post yours so we can see it?
Thanks Roxane! Ugh, I am not sure about my piece. This is the second rendition and if I can crank it out, I’d like to make a 3d and send that one in. I’ll be looking forward to your post!
Your sample almost persuades me to try trapunto. It’s all fabulous, but my extra favorite part is the bubbles trapped in the outer border.
Thanks Joanna-“trapped bubbles”, giggle! Poor little bubbles can’t get out. I have yet to do a major piece with trapunto but it is high on my wish list.
I tried machine trapunto for the first time for the FMQ challenge. My results weren’t as dramatic as I had hoped, and I think that was due to batting choice since I did quilt densely around the raised areas. Which battings are you using for your trapunto, Jenny? Also, I really love the look of your “bubble” fill. You have just a little space between the round motifs and it’s so much more elegant than the way mine comes out. I cram too many of them in and they are all lopsided, so that my fill pattern like that comes out looking not like pebbles or bubbles, but more like a gravel driveway. :-)
Hi Rebecca;
Thanks! It’s so funny because I’ve been reading about all these competitive longarmers using double layers of 80/20. I gasped when I read that-I didn’t have a high opinion of it but the work I saw looked great.
So I tried the double layer of 80/20-the jury is still out on this one. It does look nice and doesn’t seem to crease like cotton batting would. I just haven’t tried it enough to tell if I like it yet.
And yes, I think it’s important to leave negative space around the bubbles. When I do mine, I go 4-6 (guessing here) bubbles before I close off a space and have the bubbles surround a negative space. The tendency is to have all the bubbles snug up and touch each other but I prefer a more lacy look. It’s simply personal preference.
The effect is lovely!!! I am so glad to live in the “machine quilting” age!!!!! Your art is gorgeous!!!! Hugs…………..
Thanks Doreen! Yes, I do not want to think about doing this by hand.